The servants are back!
Members of Idaho Servant Adventures paint the bleachers at Teeter’s Field last July in preparation for the Kellogg All-Class Reunion. Photo courtesy of CLINT KUNZE
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Front to back: Renee Roeber, Andrea Stakson and Autumn Schuldt work on digging a trench last June for a homeowner in Wallace to solve her snow removal problem. Thanks to ISA, the Wallace resident’s 118-year-old home received significant repairs that she could have never done on her own.
By CHANSE WATSON
Managing Editor
OSBURN — Do you need some firewood split? Your house painted? Some gravel moved? Your taxes done? (OK, maybe not that last one).
If so, then you are in luck because Idaho Servant Adventures is back again this summer and they are looking to, once again, make a difference in a place that needs it.
Shoshone Mountain Retreat’s (part of Lutherhaven Ministries) Idaho Servant Adventures program has been helping those in need in the Silver Valley for 11 years now, and SMR Director Clint Kunze says that they’re more prepared than ever to tackle some projects.
“Let’s bring folks together, let’s get our hands dirty, and let’s go out and serve. That’s exactly what ISA is all about.”
This year’s servant crew will consist of more than 400 teens and adults coming from 12-15 different states. All these servants will be sorted into teams of 7-8 individuals and will work on various projects throughout the Silver Valley for the next six weeks (June 18 to Aug. 1).
Although most of what they will do is help out around the area, these servants will also have access to some recreational activities provided by Lutherhaven Ministries; so there is also some fun to be had on top of the rewarding volunteer experiences.
The number of servants got a big boost last year when ISA announced that AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team was to support their efforts for six weeks. Kunze is proud to say that AmeriCorps will once again be assisting ISA, but this time it is for 12 weeks.
These AmeriCorps servants not only help with the hands-on side of things, but they also play a large role in reaching out to local individuals, organizations and business to line up projects to work on.
ISA is once again asking Silver Valley residents for project suggestions. Types of projects that they have completed in the past include home repair, yard work, light construction, kids’ programs, heavy cleaning, wood splitting, elderly assistance, work with the disabled, parks improvement and trail work.
Typically, the homeowner, organization or business that the servants are volunteering for provide the funds for work materials and ISA provides the free labor. Other options are available though for those who can only provide a portion of the funding.
Servants that arrived early or were already in the area have already started on a few small projects.
In the first 10 years of the program’s existence, Kunze stated in a previous interview that “more than 4,500 teens have volunteered over 72,000 hours of service with ISA here in the Silver Valley as the hands, feet and voice of Jesus.”
ISA was created in 2008, coinciding with Lutherhaven Ministries’ purchase of Shoshone Mountain retreat from the United States Forest Service in 2009. Lutherhaven Ministries had operated the retreat since 1998.
Since its inception, the overall goal of ISA has been clear.
“Our vision is in three little pieces: nurture Christian faith, strengthen communities and equip servant leaders,” Kunze explained.
AmeriCorps is a full-time, residential, national service program in which 1,200 young adults serve nationwide each year.
Even with the more than 400 servants set to come into the Silver Valley, ISA believes that you can never have enough people who want to do good.
“We’re always looking for folks in the community that want to help as well, help our neighbors,” Kunze said.
Anyone with projects, ideas, needs, project connections, or would like to volunteer their time can contact Kunze by calling 208-682-2267 or emailing clint@lutherhaven.com.
To learn more about Idaho Servant Adventures and AmeriCorps NCCC, visit www.idahoservantadventures.com and www.americorps.gov/nccc.